03

Fabiola

I writhed on the couch that offered more comfort than my bed back at home if I was being truthful. My eyes opened to rest on the pair of eyes watching me. 

I bolted upright, panicked. 

“Easy princess,” the stranger said, smiling. “I’m Ace,” he looked at me, amused and entertained. “I guess you’re the bride……

He waited for me to fill in my name and I did. “Fabiola,” my soft voice shook. 

“Fabiola,” he mimicked my tone and I pinched my forehead, I didn’t expect that. Who’s this?

The loud footsteps stopped him from speaking further. Tobias climbed down the stairs, the white shirt struggling to hold his built body. 

“Husband,” Ace called loudly and from the way Tobias's jaw constricted, I could tell he was more than irritated. 

He walked past us like we weren’t there. 

“See you….. around,” Ace waggled his brows at me before following behind him.  

I sat there in bewilderment. What was I supposed to do now? Head to campus or remain on the couch. A few hours later I met a woman, a staff, who assisted me in getting through the day. She showed me to my room and helped me organize my things that Dave had just brought in. 

It’s been three days of being a wife and I haven’t seen my husband since that morning. Dave was always there to drive me to my classes and when I returned home and remained in the room assigned to me. The staff, Sarah, brings dinner, lunch, and breakfast up to my room. For these few days, I could tell that she was the only staff around. She arrives very early before I’m up and leaves late at night.  

The entire experience was boring, the kind of bore I liked, alone and peaceful. It didn't appear too bad when I took out the part that I was married. 

The peace didn’t last long, after a week Mrs Hawkeye finally decided to come to me, she invited me out for tea. 

…….

“Drink,” she commanded me after she had taken a few sips and I still didn’t drink. 

“I don’t like tea, I prefer coffee.” 

That was true. 

“Drink!” She looked at me, daring me to decline.

I drank the tea feeling like the weight of the world was on my narrow shoulders. 

“I shall see to it that you have all you need, that you have all the luxury you won’t have been able to afford in this life and the next.”

I felt the need to roll my eyes at her. 

“All you need to do is get me an heir, a grandson. Being wedded is the first step, he has to bed you.”

My ears perked up at her words. Tobias and I in bed, not possible. 

“I haven’t seen him in weeks, he doesn’t speak a word even when I see him.”

“I’m fully aware,” She was unfazed by my claims. “Which is why you have to lead the way. Seduce him!”

“What?” I bunched my brows.

“My husband is on his deathbed and Tobias has to father a son before he draws his last breath and that won’t be long. Seduce him and do it soon. You must go to bed with him and around this time next month, you should be with child.”

I opened my mouth to speak but words failed me. What have I gotten myself into? 

**

All through my classes Mrs Hawkeye’s words were all I could think of. Seduce him! How. It's been three days since she said that to me and I still can't stop dwelling on it. 

The class ended and I headed straight to the garage to find Dave, there I spotted him and my heart stopped for a split second. Lan, a pretty brunette stood beside him, she leaned into his arms as if she owned him. My heart palpitated the way it always does around him. I guess it didn’t recall that I was now married to his uncle. 

For the first time since I knew him. He looked at me, twice. 

On my way home I checked my phone to see if my aunt or uncle had returned my calls or texts, but no, they didn’t. They dumbed me like a lamb for sacrifice. Arriving home, I was prepared to head to my room as usual but unfortunately he was there, resting against the wall, a glass of red wine in his left hand. The wristwatch around his wrist glittered enough to make one blind if one stared too much. His cold gaze fell on me, he didn’t give a reaction, he just stared. He didn’t say a word nor did he look away. He just watched like he could take my soul away with his eyes.

My eyes darted from him to the stairs before I started towards the stairs. His eyes followed me but he said nothing. I quickened my pace, fear rising in my chest. 

I released the breath I didn’t know I was holding when I got to my room, slamming the door and leaning against it. 

These people expect me to seduce a lifeless-looking man. 

My phone vibrated in my pocket, it was Aunt Cathy calling. I was happy she finally called but I figured I didn’t have to be. She just called to deliver the message Uncle Robert couldn’t. 

“You must do as you’re told, our home, my flower shop, this family, everything is in danger.” I tried to speak but she interrupted. “You must not fail, you can’t afford to.”

That was all she said before hanging up. No one cared about me, It has always been my reality but now it was becoming painfully obvious. I was delusional to think that I could study and find true love and be happy. Life wasn’t a friend of mine. Alas. 

I haven’t even as much as kissed anyone, how could I possibly seduce someone like him? Ridiculous! If this was what I lived for, I had to at least try. If he kills me during my attempt at least he will free me from my misfortune. 

Determined to fulfill my purpose here, I turned to the door at the sound of the first knock. “I’ll have lunch downstairs.” I could tell that Sarah would be puzzled behind the door.

Fortunately for me, he was still on the ground floor. I swallowed nothing, taking a deep breath as I made my way to the dining area. 

A conversation, I can start from there. 

I dropped the tray of food I collected from Sarah on the luxurious table and greeted him. 

“Good evening, sir,” the awkward words left my mouth before I could stop it.

He didn’t act as if he saw me when I walked past but when I greeted him, he turned to me immediately, with the same plain look, his head cocked to the side. 

“I thought I was invisible,” his voice was low and resonant. 

I pressed my lip recalling how I ignored him and ran up the stairs. 

“I-

“You have been threatened by my mother. You need me to fuck you so you can carry my child, the answer is no!”

I choked at his words, coughing as he just watched me. How could he just say that? This was mission impossible. I can’t do it. I can’t. 

He answered his ringing phone and I took the chance to sit, my eyes not leaving him. 

“Come in,” he coldly ordered. 

A huge and well-built man stepped in with a straight face, he didn’t look my way. I kept watching Tobias as the man approached and suddenly my eye caught something. The tattoo running down the man’s arm. 

My chest tightened, flashbacks rushing swiftly. I dropped the cutlery with so much force that it attracted their attention to me. My eyes remained on his tattoo as I held my chest, trying to stop the sharp pang. 

My vision became blurry, I couldn’t hear anything, but I could tell they were speaking. Sarah gathered me in her arms, calling out to me nervously.